Tips for Consulting on Fulbright Application Statements Fall

Tips for Consulting on Fulbright Application Statements Fall 2018

What is the Fulbright? • Created by US Congress in 1947. • Prestigious grant opportunity that funds living and travel overseas for teaching, research, art, and study. • Mutual cultural exchange program. • U. S. Student Program offers over 2000 awards for programs in >150 countries. • Open to: graduating seniors, recent grads, grad students, and early career professionals.

Significance For the Applicants: • • For the UWC: • Better serve specific needs of our constituents. Grant durations are typically one year or longer. • Personal Statements were the #1 writing topic in consultations last fall. The acceptance rate is 20%. • JMU is producing more and more prestigious scholarship applicants (12 Fulbright applicants last year, 43 this year). Fulfilling cultural/professional experience. Being a Fulbright alumnus is a distinction.

Written Materials for the Fulbright Application Statement of Grant Purpose • • • Technical, “job interview-like” document. • Explains applicants’ future goals and their connection to the Fulbright program. • • Pitches a community engagement project. Explains professional interest in program. Highlights relevant work/academic experience. Describes the in-country art, research, or study plan if applicable. Personal Statement • Narrative, “fluffier” document • Gives reviewers a picture of applicants as individuals. • Provide personal stories to explain their impact on the applicant as individual and how those stories led to the Fulbright.

Types of Fulbright Programs • English Teaching Assistantships (24 applicants) • Research (12 applicants) • Study (4 applicants) • Arts (1 applicant)

Focus Changes Depending on Type of Program English Teaching Assistantships • 1 -page Statement of Grant Purpose and 1 -page Personal Statement. • Extreme language pedagogy focus— SOGP should deal with ELL instruction and other relevant work experiences, and argue for qualifications and preparedness to teach overseas. Research • • 2 -page Statement of Grant Purpose and 1 -page Personal Statement. Part personal statement, part research proposal—SOGP should explain a research plan (research question, hypothesis, methodologies, relevance to the field) in addition to showcasing previous technical experience.

Focus Changes Depending on Type of Program Study Art • 2 -page Statement of Grant Purpose • Highly specific to program. • Close to traditional Grad School • Similar to research plan but with and 1 -page Personal Statement. application, in many ways that’s what it is. and 1 -page Personal Statement. artistic focus should explain what piece of art will be created, the value of said art, and why it should be pursued in-country.

Things to Consider in Consultations • Use resources, read country profiles: https: //us. fulbrightonline. org/ • Focus on economy of language—use allotted space, eliminate wordiness. • Some amount of choppiness is necessary; ETAs must discuss all of this in one page: career goals, teaching philosophy, professional experiences and skills gained through them, why they chose their country, what they will do in-country for community engagement. • Be an outside reader: make sure the stories make sense, the claims are supported, and gauge what you feel is convincing or persuasive.

Things to Consider in Consultations • A committee reads these in both the U. S. and in-country—keep an eye out for concepts that don’t translate cleanly. • Be encouraging and mindful of tutee stress levels—the application process is long and grueling and many folks are highly invested in their apps. • You are a late-stage-reader: Bring up HOCs as you can, but it’s okay to focus on LOCs, you may even be addressing written feedback and helping them implement edits. • Don’t worry about formatting, advisers catch that before submission.

Any Questions? Also consider Applying to the Fulbright and other fellowships yourselves! Talk to Kurt! https: //www. jmu. edu/honors/people/staff-profile-davies. shtml